Stereotype-plate-finishing machine.



R. T. JOHNSTON.

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913. 1, 1 26,769. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

( 1M www THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. Fl-ln-rn I Wu, um :I-lINGTON. D. C.

R. T. JOHNSTON. STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDJULY 14, 1913.

1,126,769. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

dd-w j THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT T. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTINGPRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEBEOTYPE-PLATE-FINISHING MAGI-IINE.

menace.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT T. JonNsToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in StereotypePlate-Finishing Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for finishing stereotype plates forprinting presses, and has particularly to do with finishing machines ofthe type shown and described in my pendin a lication for stereotv 3elate finishing and cooling machines. filed May 1913, Serial No. 769,392.In the machine of my said application the plate to be finished is placedin a rotary shell, after which a controlling bar is operated by hand toactuate locking mechanism by which one edge of the plate is lifted tobring the outer surface of the plate into close contact with theinterior of the shell in which position it is held during the finishingoperation. When the plate is introduced into the shell it is properlypositioned with reference to the end cutters by which the ends of theplate are beveled, and by one of which the tail-piece is cut off, bymeans of a rocking stop which intercepts the leading end of the plateand swings over as the plate moves into the shell, reaching the limit ofits movement when the plate arrives in proper position for finishing.lVhen the plate is lifted into its locked position, the stop swings backunder the plate, under the action of a spring, and when the plate isreleased it overlies the stop and may be drawn out over it. The shell isrotated at intervals by means of a gear, which is loosely mounted on theshell, so that it may rotate independently thereof, suitable clutchmechanism being provided by which at the proper times said gear isconnected with the shell so as to rotate it, the gear beingautomatically disconnected from the shell when the latter has completedits rotation. The continued rotation of the gear then unlocks the plateso that it may be drawn out of the shell. My present invention, whilesubsidiary to that of my said application, is an improvement thereuponin that it provides means by which the movementofthe plate into theSpecification of Letters Patent.

FatentedFeb. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 778,901.

shell operates the locking mechanism so that the plate is lockedtherein, and also actuates the clutch mechanism by which the drivinggear is connected to the shell, so that the plate is first locked inposition and the shell then begins to rotate, these latter operationsbeing automatically initiated by the movement of the plate into theshell.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only such parts of thefinishing machine as are necessary to a clear understanding of myinvention,Figure 1 is a side view of the finishing machine; Fig. 2 is apartial end view illustrating the stop and the connection by which themovement of the stop operates the plate-locking mechanism; Fig. 3 is avertical cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail, being apartial vertical cross-section illustrating the detent for holding theoperating bar in its innermost position; and Fig. 5 is a detail showingthe lug o cam which releases the operating bar.

Referring to the drawings,3 indicates the shell which is adapted, toreceive the stereotype-plate, and 4 indicates the driving gear which isloosely mounted thereon and is adapted to be connected therewith atproper times by suitable clutch mechanism which will be hereinafterdescribed.

5 indicates a locking-bar mounted on the shell 3 and movablelongitudinally of itself and circumferentially of the shell. Said barcarries a block adapted to engage one of the edges of the plate so as tolift the plate into close contact with the shell and secure it inposition, as described in my said application;

6 indicatesa segmental gear which meshes with suitable teeth 7, on thelocking-bar 5, said gear being pivoted at 8 and arranged so that whenrocked in one direction it moves the locking-bar 5 up into lockingposition, and when rocked in the opposite direction it moves saidlocking-bar down into unlocking position.

9 indicates an arm carried by the gear 6, which arm connects with aswinging bolt 10, having thereon a spring 11, thus forming a togglewhich operates to hold the gear 6 in either of its positions.

12 indicates a controlling bar, mounted to move longitudinally of theshell 3' and having a depending arm 13 adapted to bear upon a roller 14carried by the arm 9, so that the movement of the bar 12 to the right,as shown in Fig. 1, operates to swing the gear 6 and locks the plate inthe shell.

In my application above referred to, the controlling-bar, whichcorresponds to the bar 12, is moved to the right by hand and is returnedto its normal position by a spring. In my present construction I alsoemploy a spring 15 for returning the bar 12 to its normal or left-handposition, but said bar is moved to the, right to lock the plate bymechanism operated by the introduction of the plate into the shell. Thismovement of the bar 12 effects the connection of the gear 4 with theshell by the clutch mechanism referred to in the manner hereinafter setforth.

The manner in which the controlling-bar 12 is moved to the right by theintroduction of the plate into the shell will now be described.

16 indicates the stop hereinbefore referred to, which is in the form ofa bellcrank lever, pivoted at 17, adjacent to the outlet end of theshell. The stop 16 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 18 andwith a horizontally-extending arm 19, the latter being pressed down by aspring 20, mounted on a rod 21. The upwardly-extending arm 18 isbifurcated, as shown in Fig. 2, and carries vertically-movable stopmembers 22, which, when the stop is in its normal position, are adaptedto engage the upper margin of the plate as it is introduced into theshell, as

indicated by the lower pair of curved dotted lines shown in Fig. 2. Asthe .plate is shoved into the shell the arm 18 of the stop swings overto, the right until it reaches the limit of its movement, whereupon theplate is arrested in the proper position. When the plate is lifted intolocking position. the stop swings back to its normal position shown inFig. 1, the stop-members 22 then lying under the locked plate, asillustrated by the upper pair of curved dotted lines shown in Fig. 2.When the plate is released it drops down upon the stop-members 22,pressing them down with it. The plate may then be withdrawn over thestop-members.

23 indicates a rocking arm, fixed upon a shaft 24, its free end bearingagainst the outer face of the stop-arm 18, as shown in Fig. 1.

25 indicates a set-screw by which the position of the arm 23 may beadjusted with respect to the arm 18.

26 indicates a crank connecting the controlling bar 12 with the shaft 24and secured thereto so as to rotate therewith. Said shaft is alsofixedly connected with the arm 7 From the foregoing description it willbe seen that when the plate is shoved into the shell far enough toengage the stop-arm 18, said stop-arm will swing over to the right asthe plate advances and this will carry the arm 23 and crank 26 in thesame direction, thereby moving the controlling-bar 12 inward so that itsfinger 13 engages the roller 14 and moves it to the right across a linedrawn from the pivot of the arm 9 to the pivot of the bolt 10. By meansof the setscrew 25 the position of the controlling bar 12 when the platereaches the end of its movement, may be regulated, and in practice thisset-screw is so adjusted that the platelocking spring 11 crosses thecenter and becomes effective at the instant the plate is brought to restby the plate-stop. The

spring 11 then continues the movement of the segmental gear 6 andlocking-barb, so that the plate is moved up into its locked position.The movement of the controllingbar 12 above described also effects theconnection of the gear 4 with the shell 3 through the clutch mechanismreferred to, which will now be described: As has been explained, thegear 4 is loosely mounted upon the shell 3 and it is constantly drivenby means of a worm 27, mounted on a shaft 28, which is journaled insuitable bearings in the base, as shown in Fig. 3, said shaft beingdriven from the main drive-shaft of the machine through suitablegearing, as by beveled gears 2930. As the main drive-shaft is constantlydriven while the machine is in use, it will be observed that the gear 4rotates idly except when the shell is operatively con-.

- the material of which the shell is composed, but said shell isrecessed to receive a hardened steel plate 35, in which the indentationreferred to is formed, thus providing for readily maintaining theindentation in proper condition by renewing said plate. The lowerportion of the pawl 31 isnormally pressed inward so that it will enterthe indentation 33 by a spring 36, shown in Fig. 3. Said pawl is alsoprovided with a hardened block 37 arranged above its pivot and on itsouter surface, said block being employed for moving the pawl out ofopera tive engagement, as hereinafter desoribed,to disengage the gear 4from the shell at the end of each complete rotation of the latter. Itwillbe apparent that normally the pawl 31 stands in its innermostposition, so that unless held out of operative position it willoperatively connect the gear 4 and the shell 3.

38 indicates a detent lever which is pivoted intermediately upon a pivot39, adjacent to the gear 4, the lower portion of said lever beingadapted to swing toward and from the pawl 31 and being provided with ablock 4:0 which is adapted to move into the path of the block 37, so asto intercept it. When this occurs, the downward movement of he pawl 31incident to the rotation of the gear t, causes the lower por tion ofsaid pawl to swing out, thereby disengaging the pawl from the shell, andconsequently disconnecting the shell from the gear 4-. In order todisconnect the lower portion of the detent lever 38 from the block 37when its function of disconnecting the shell has been performed, thepawl is provided with an outwardly projecting nose 4-1 which lies belowthe block 37 and operates when the lower portion of the pawl is swungoutward to engage the lever 38 and swing it out so that its block l0disengages the block 37, thereby allowing the pawl to continue past saidlever as the gear l r0- tates. The lower end of the lever 38 is normally pressed inward so as to hold it in position to engage the block 37of the pawl by means of a spring as which bears upon a button l3, asshown in Fig. 3. The upper end portion of the detent lever 38 liesadjacent to the operating-bar 12, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a beveledportion ll which is adapted to be engaged by a roller i5, mounted on thebar 12, in such position that when the operating-bar is shoved in by themovement of the plate into the shell, said roller will engage thebeveled portion at of the detent lever 38 and swing it to he positionshown in Fig. 3, thereby leaving the pawl 31 free to engage the shelland operatively connect it with the gear 4: and so cause it to rotate.Fig. 3 illustrates the parts in the positions they occupy just after theplate has been locked in position in the shell and before the shellstarts to rotate, so that it will be seen that the detent lever 38 isnot moved out of position to engage the pawl until the plate has firstbeen locked in position, and consequently the shell can not be rotateduntil after such locking has been effected. It will be noted furtherthat inasmuch as the operating-bar 12 is actuated in the mannerdescribed by the movement of the plate into the shell, the intro ductionof the plate automatically operativelv connects the gear l with theshell and initiates its rotation. When the operatingbar 12 has beenactuated in the manner described by the introduction of the plate intothe shell, it is temporarily locked in its inner position by means of alatch 4:6, best shown in Fig. 4, which is in the form of a bellcranklever, pivoted at L7 and having an arm 48, which engages a notch 49,with which the bar 12 is provided, said notch being adapted to registerwith the arm 48 when the bar is shoved into its innermost position. Byswinging the arm -18 upward, the bar 12 will be released and may thenreturn to its normal position, under the action of the spring 15. Thelever L6 is provided with a downwardlyextending arm 50 by which saidlever is rocked to release the operating-bar soon after the shell beginsto rotate. For effecting this operation, the shell is provided with alug or cam 51, best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, which projects so astoengage the depending 50 of the lever 46 soon after the shell begins torotate. As the cam 51 is carried around, it strikes the lower end of thearm 50, thereby swinging the arm 48 out of engagement with theopcrating-bar 12, which is at once returned to its original position bythe spring 15. This permits the detent lever 38 to return to itsoriginal position, so thatits block 40 lies in the path of the block 37and will engage said block upon the completion of the rotation of theshell, thereby again disconnect ing the shell from the gear at andstopping it. When the shell stops the gear 4 continues to rotate, andacts to release the plate and permit it to drop into position forremoval, as set forth in my application above referred to, but as thisfeature constitutes no part of my present invention, it will not bedescribed herein.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the movement of theplate into the shell not only automatically operates the lockingmechanism which looks the plate in position to be acted upon by the endcutters and the shaving devices, but also initiates the rotation of theshell as soon as the plate is locked in position, which operations, ashereinbefore stated, constitute the objects of my present invention.

That which I claim as my invention, desire to secure by Letters Patent,is,

1. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a shell adapted toreceive the plate to be finished, and means actuated by the movement ofthe plate into the shell for locking it in place after it has beenproperly positioned therein.

A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adaptedto receive the plate to be finished, means for positioning the plate inthe shell, and means independent of the rotation of the shell forautomatically locking the plate therein.

3. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shelladapted to receive the plate to be finished, a movable stop forpositioning the plate in the shell, and means actuated by the movementof said stop for locking the plate in the shell.

and

4:. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shelladapted to receive the plate to be finished, a swinging stop forpositioning the plate in the shell, and means actuated by the movementof said stop for locking the plate in the shell.

5. A stereotypeplate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shelladapted to receive the plate to be finished, spring-actuated means forlocking the plate in position, and means for automatically actuatingsaid looking means when the plate has been positioned in the shell.

6. A stereotype-plate finishing machine,

comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive a plate to be finished, astop for limiting the extent to Which the plate is moved into the shell,a locking device independent of the rotation of the shell for liftingthe plate into engagement therewith, and means for automaticallyactuating said locking device When the plate has been positioned in theshell.

7. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shelladapted to receive a plate to be finished, locking mechanism for lockingthe plate in the shell, a controlling bar adapted to be actuated tooperate said locking mechanism, andmeans for automatically actuatingsaid controlling bar to operate said locking mechanism When the platehas been positioned in the shell.

8. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shelladapted to receive a plate to be finished, locking mechanism for lockingthe plate in the shell, a controlling bar adapted to be actuated tooperate said locking mechanism, a stop for limiting the extent to Whichthe plate may be moved into the shell, and means connecting said stopWith said controlling bar whereby the latter is actuated by thepositioning of the plate in the shell to operate said locking mechanism.v

9. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising an intermittentlyrotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, means forrotating the shell, and means actuated by the movement of the plate intothe shell for initiating the rotation thereof.

10. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotatable shelladapted to receive the plate to be finished, rotating means adapted tobe connected With said shell for rotating the same, and means actuatedby the movement of the plate into the shell for connecting said shellWith the rotating means.

11. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotatable shelladapted to receive the plate to be finished, a gear rotatingindependently of the shell and adapted to be connected therewith forrotating the same, and means actuated by the'lnovement of the plate intothe shell for connecting said gear With said shell.

12. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising an intermittentlyrotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, means forrotating the shell, locking mechanism for locking the plate in theshell, and means actuated by the movement of the plate into the shellfor actuating said locking mechanism and then initiating the rotation ofthe shell.

13. A stereotype-plate finishing machine,

comprising an intermittently rotatable shell adapted to receive theplate to be finished, locking mechanism for locking the plate in theshell, means for rotating the shell, and means independent of therotation ofthe shell and automatically actuated by the movement of theplate thereinto for actuating said locking mechanism to lock the platein the shell and for then initiating the rotation of the shell.

ROBERT T. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JAcKsoN, W. R. ELLIS, W. H. DE BUSK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent Washington, I). C.

